The Gender and Sexuality Studies Program (GSST) foregrounds the study of social relations of power in a variety of cultural, historical and national contexts. The objective of gender and sexuality studies is to bring feminist and queer theory in conversation with new research methodologies in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The program emphasizes the interrelationship not only between gender and sexuality but also between race and class as well as local and global politics.

The GSST Program is distinguished by the courses it offers across the three academic divisions of the College–humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and engineering.

Students in any major, whether as course majors or in the Honors Program, may elect a minor in gender and sexuality studies by fulfilling the requirements below. Students may also design a special major in GSST in consultation with the program’s coordinator. Students who intend to pursue gender and sexuality studies should submit their proposed programs to the coordinator when they submit their sophomore papers. All proposals to minor or major in gender and sexuality studies must be approved by the GSST Committee.

The Academic Program

Course Minor

Course minors must take 5 courses and/or seminar offerings which must be selected from at least two different divisions. Seminars count as one course toward program requirements.

Only one course counted for GSST may overlap with the student’s major or other minor.

GSST minors are required to complete GSST 001: Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies, and subsequently GSST 020: Theory and Methodology. During the senior year, minors are required to complete GSST 091: Seminar in GSST.

With the approval of the GSST Coordinator, students may include courses offered by the Gender and Sexuality Studies program at Bryn Mawr and Haverford Colleges, and by the Women’s Studies program at UPenn in their program.

Only one relevant course taken abroad may count toward fulfillment of the minor.

With the approval of the GSST Coordinator, students may elect to write a 1-credit thesis (GSST 092) or pursue an independent study as a substitute for regular coursework. The thesis cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the student’s major or other minor. Students must have adequate disciplinary background in gender and sexuality studies to carry out independent study and/or write a thesis.

Honors Minor

Students must have a “B” average in GSST coursework at the College in order to be accepted into Honors.

Honors minors must complete 6 credits and complete the written and oral external examinations at the end of the senior year.

Honors minors must successfully complete the program requirements (GSST 001, 020, and 091).

Honors minors must consult with the GSST Coordinator in spring of their junior year regarding their Honors preparations.

The examination preparation for the Honors minor will consist of GSST 091: Seminar in GSST. In consultation with the seminar instructor, Honors minors will be required to assemble a Senior Honors Study Portfolio which may include materials such as independent essays, seminar papers, additional reading lists, research projects, etc.

With the approval of the GSST Coordinator, minors may elect to write a one-credit thesis (GSST 092) or pursue an independent study as a substitute for regular coursework. The thesis cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the student’s major or other minor. Students must have adequate disciplinary background in GSST to carry out independent study and/or write a thesis.

Special Major

Students have the option of designing an individualized special major (such as GSST and religion, GSST and sociology and anthropology, GSST and history, etc.). Students also have the option of pursuing the following curricular path:

Special majors must successfully complete the program requirements (GSST 001, 020, and 091).

Special majors must complete at least 10 credits and normally no more than 12 credits for a special major in GSST.

Only two credits may overlap with the student’s major or other minor.

Special majors may apply up to two GSST-related study abroad credits to their program.

With approval of the GSST Coordinator, special majors may elect to write a one-credit thesis (GSST 092), or pursue an independent study as a substitute for regular coursework. The thesis cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the student’s major or other minor. Students must have adequate GSST disciplinary background to carry out independent study and/or write a thesis.

Special Honors Major

Special majors must have a “B” average in GSST coursework at the College in order to be accepted into Honors.

Honors majors must successfully complete the program requirements (GSST 001, 020, and 091).

Honors majors must complete at least 10 credits and complete the written and oral external examinations at the end of their senior year.

Only two credits may overlap with the student’s major or other minor.

Special Honors Majors may apply up to 2 GSST-related study abroad credits to their program.

Honors majors must consult with the GSST Coordinator in spring of their junior year regarding their Honors preparations and Senior Honors Study Portfolio.

One of the four Honors exam preparations must include GSST 091: Seminar in GSST.

With approval of the GSST Coordinator, special majors may elect to write a one-credit thesis (GSST 092), or pursue an independent study as a substitute for regular coursework. The thesis cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the student’s major or other minor. Students must have adequate GSST disciplinary background to carry out independent study and/or write a thesis.

Application Process Notes for the Minor

Students interested in pursuing a minor in GSST are required to complete a GSST application form to be submitted along with a copy of their sophomore application to the Programs Office, Trotter 107. Special major, honors, and transfer credit applications are also available at: www.swarthmore.edu/gsst.

Transfer Credit

To receive academic credit for women’s studies or gender and sexuality studies courses taken at other colleges and universities in the U.S., students must first apply for credit through the appropriate Swarthmore department, and then apply to the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program to have the course included in their program. If the institution offering the course has a Women’s Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program, or a similar program, the course in question must be part of that program in order to be approved as a gender and sexuality studies course at Swarthmore.

Off-Campus Study

The Gender and Sexuality Studies Program grants academic credit for course work relevant to the academic program taken while studying abroad. Minors may apply for no more than one credit of work done abroad to meet their GSST requirements. GSST special majors may apply up to two GSST-related study abroad credits to their program.

In order to receive credit, the GSST Coordinator must preapprove the course(s).

When the student returns to campus, the GSST Coordinator will evaluate the work (syllabus, exams, papers, and class notes) and assign the appropriate amount of credit.

Internship Support

The Summer Social Action Awards (S2A2) support students in the current sophomore and junior classes to spend ten weeks, full time (35 hours per week) performing advocacy and/or service through a host non-profit organization. Financial support includes a weekly stipend to offset modest living expenses, and the provision of the summer earnings requirement.

The Richard Sager Internship, administered through the S2A2 program, supports one student interested in working with a non-profit organizational host whose mission focuses on LGBTQ issues. While the Sager Internship funds can only provide support for one student per summer, please note that applications are evaluated on their own merits. Therefore, more than one student who has been offered a full-time placement with an LGBTQ organization may serve through a “general” S2A2 grant. Students applying as a result of their academic involvement in the GSST program may also be funded through a Nason grant.

Courses

The program offers the following courses and seminars:

GSST 001. Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies

This interdisciplinary core course is an introduction to key concepts, questions, and analytical tools developed by scholars of gender and sexuality studies. Through this course, you will become familiar with key contemporary debates in the field, as well as the historical formation of these debates. Substantial attention will be paid to the development and application of queer theory within the history of the field, including discussion of social construction of gender identities and expressions, as well as LGBTQ identities, texts, theories, and issues. Course materials will include “classic” and contemporary gender and sexuality studies scholarship from a variety of disciplines. We will explore gender and sexuality in relation to topics such as media representation, embodiment, economics, health and reproduction, technology, activism, social movements, and violence. Required course for GSST minors and special majors. 1 credit. Fall 2014. Surkan.

GSST 020. Theory and Methodology Special Topics: Queer Media

(Cross-listed as GSST 020, FMST 046) The history of avant-garde and experimental media has been intertwined with that of gender non-conformity and sexual dissidence, and even the most mainstream media forms have been queered by sub-cultural reception. How do LGBT filmmakers “queer” sexual norms and standard media forms? How are sexual identities mediated by popular culture? Challenging classic Hollywood’s heterosexual presumption and mass media appropriations of LGBT culture, we will examine LGBT aesthetic strategies and modes of address in contexts such as the American and European avant-gardes, AIDS activism, and transnational and diasporan film through the lens of queer theory. Prerequisite: GSST 001 or permission of instructor. 1 credit. Fall 2014.

GSST 030. Gender and Genre

(Cross-listed as LITR 032)The course investigates interrelatedness of the concepts of gender and genre in literature. After introducing some of the key questions in genre theory, the course discusses several major literary genres from feminist and gender perspective. Using examples from contemporary literature, the course investigates the ways in which gender perspective transforms thinking about novel; why and how autobiography became a privileged genre for women writers; if écriture féminine can be interpreted as a literary genre; why feminist writers love science fiction and detective novels. Students are expected to read several novels and a selection of short stories for the course, as well as a limited number of theoretical texts that will be distributed in advance. Participation in discussions is expected. 1 credit. Spring 2015. Lukič

GSST 091. Seminar in Gender and Sexuality Studies

An advanced seminar emphasizing theoretical and methodological questions that occur when gender and sexuality are placed at the center of study. This class is required of, and normally limited to, students with minors or special majors in GSST and is required for seniors. Others may take the course with instructor's permission. Prerequisite: GSST 001 and 020, or permission of instructor. 1 credit. Spring 2015. Kessler.

GSST 092. Thesis

1 credit. Each semester. Staff.

GSST 093. Directed Reading

1 credit. Fall 2014 and spring 2015.

GSST 192A and GSST 192B. Honors Thesis

For students completing a special major in honors (1 credit must be taken each semester of the senior year). 2 credits. Staff. The following departmental courses have been approved for credit toward the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program:

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

POLS 013. Feminist Political TheoryPOLS 014. The Politics of IdentityPOLS 031. Difference, Dominance, and the Struggle for EqualityPOLS 032. Gender, Politics, and Policy in AmericaPOLS 046. Lesbians and Gays in American Politics

Psychology

Religion

RELG 003. The Bible: In the BeginningRELG 007B. Women and ReligionRELG 025B. Black Women and Religion in the United StatesRELG 032. Queering God: Feminist and Queer TheoryRELG 053. Gender, Sexuality, and the Body in IslamRELG 114. Love and ReligionRELG 128. Sex, Gender and the Hebrew Bible